Chapters 23 and Afterword Summary

In Chapter 23, Tara says that she has figured out the dream she had at the beginning of the novel: The monster she was afraid of was her OCD itself, threatening to destroy her family. She couldn't flee from it in the dream, but now she can face it, and it isn't as dreadful. She says that "when I finally faced my fears and doubts, unbelievably, they became boring and then they went away." (p. 190). She realizes that she didn't choose her OCD, it was always just part of her. She realizes that other people have their issues too, and she says that "I'm proud of Kristin, despite the sacrifices she's making that I don't agree with." (p. 190). She says that her parents' relationship is a little worse, now that they don't have her to fight about. But Tara says...